The Federal Government, on Friday, announced the distribution of farm inputs to 1,000 farmers in Lagos and Nasarawa states to boost food production in the states
It said the move was in line with ongoing efforts to ensure the availability of staple foods for Nigerians, adding that it would assist farmers across the country to maximise crop cultivation for improved yields and production.
The farm inputs were distributed by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), an agency of the Federal Government, which stated that accredited beneficiaries of the empowerment programme received a NALDA branded bag containing maize and bean seeds, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and fertilisers.
“Each pack, if properly planted and properly maintained till harvest, can yield up to six tonnes of produce for each farmer”, NALDA stated in a statement in Abuja.
It said the inputs were distributed with each state’s area of agricultural specialisation in view, while the biometrics of beneficiaries were captured on their farms to get a comprehensive database of farmers and ensure that only genuine farmers benefit.
The agency said, “In Lagos State, 500 beneficiaries from Lagos East Senatorial District consisting of Epe, Ibeju/Lekki, Ikorodu, Agbowa, Imota and others got the empowerment package”.
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikone, represented by the agency’s Information, Communications and Technology Director, Mr Chima Onuha, said the initiative was by the agenda of President Bola Tinubu in agriculture development and food security.
A beneficiary, Owolabi Odulaja, who appreciated NALDA for the gesture, said it would go a long way in tackling poverty.
“This initiative will help the people to tackle poverty. We thank President Tinubu and NALDA for this great support during this challenging economic period”, he stated.
For Nasarawa State, the agency stated that “500 farmers drawn from all over the state benefited from the distribution exercise, which took place at the Emir’s palace in Lafia, the state capital”.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman of Nasarawa Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Muhammed (Rtd), commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
He said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the economy of the state while urging the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity.
“If the Federal Government is saying that we are giving you this free without you dipping hands in your pockets to do it, then people must take advantage of it”, Muhammed stated.
